The overall success when caring for mixed hair all comes down to a combination of the right products and the right tools. Detangling mixed hair is essential for getting rid of shed hair and preventing tangling. Curly hair is delicate and can break off if not careful.
Contrary to popular belief, hair brushes are the perfect tool to incorporate into your child’s mixed hair regimen. However, it is extremely important to use the right brush since many curly hair brushes play different roles in curly hair care. Below we help you learn the different brushes you can use on mixed hair.
This post is all about must have brushes for mixed hair.
1. Denman Brush
The Denman brush is one of the most popular hair brushes used on curly hair. The bristles come in 5, 7, and 9 rows. It is a flexible brush that can be modified. The rows can be removed or added to accommodate the hair’s needs. The more the rows, the tighter the curls get. Make sure to section the hair before use. It is preferable to use on damp hair for optimum results. The Denman brush is a versatile multi-purpose tool that is great for :
- Speeding up the detangling process as it can separate tangled curly hair and remove knots.
- Its bristles have ball tips that help in combating static. This will help smoothen hair and reduce frizz.
- It will amplify the curl pattern as it defines curls and creates ringlets on mixed hair.
2. EZ Detangler Brush
The EZ Detangler brush is a sturdy yet lightweight brush. It will cut down the detangling time by half and reduce the amount of hair shed during wash days. This innovative ergonomic-designed brush is made of 8 rows of round flexible needle bristles that have detachable support.
The detachable support can be adjusted up or down. This allows the rows to separate during the detangling process, preventing snagging and pulling hair which can cause hair breakage. It may need some time adjusting before you can comfortably use it on mixed hair.
It has a similar appearance to a rake and will gently rake through the hair, tackling knots and tangles without damaging the hair. Another amazing aspect is the EZ Detangler brush is a steady grip so it is not slippery during the detangling process.
3. Felicia Leatherwood Detangling Brush
The Felicia Leatherwood Detangling brush was purposely designed to detangle thick, curly hair. Made from flexible well-spaced bristles that are designed to easily bend when gliding through tangled hair to detangle and smooth curly hair. Perfect for detangling outside the shower.
Pro tip: the Felicia Leatherwood brush is best used on damp hair. Thanks to its wide handle, it is a great tool for beginners who are not used to detangling mixed hair. It is a very versatile tool that can be used to distribute the products during wash days or style mixed hairstyles; and define and help shape curly hair overall.
4. Tangle Teezer
Like the name, the Tangle Teezer will tease out the knots making it the ultimate detangling brush for fine or thick curly hair. It is made of 325 bristles with a combination of long and short bristles that can easily glide throughout the hair with no tagging or pulling. The long bristles will remove knots and detangle hair without causing mechanical damage and breakage.
On the flipside, the short bristles will help to reduce frizz, catch flyways, and smooth curly hair. This brush is perfect for kids with delicate mixed hair as it will be a pain-free process loosening the knots and tangles. The Tangle Teezer comes in handle-free or paddle style with a great grip. If you caught onto the pattern here: it is best used on damp hair.
5. Paddle Brush
The paddle brush is a usually a given when it comes to curly hair, in genearl. It is a flexible brush that can be used on different mixed hairstyles. The paddle brush can be used on either dry or damp hair. But, when used on damp, curly hair, it will be much easier when detangling and smoothing your child’s curly hair.
If you choose to straighten your child’s hair for special occassions (please avoid doing this often), the paddle brush glides smoothly through curly hair during the blow drying process. With its large surface, it can spread across the hair, adding volume and body.
Its bristles are made with ball tips that will help smoother cuticles and allow the hair to lie flat resulting in silky and shiny blown-out hair. Added bonus: this brush is actually my daughters’ favorite brush because it gives a mini scalp massage when I smooth their hair.
6. Wet Brush
If you’re brand new to the world of curly hair, please keep in mind curly hair is the most fragile when wet. The wet brush is actually designed to minimize breakage when used on wet hair. It is made from long flexible bristles that won’t rip through wet hair which allows you to rid knots and tangles much easier.
This is usually a brush that you will prefer to keep in the shower; or personally speaking, beneath the sink which is where I handle wash days with my girls. Despite its name, the wet brush is very gentle on both wet and dry hair. Another added bonus: its soft bristles are perfect for giving the scalp a gentle massage and helping with blood circulation.
And it’s also great at distributing hair treatments to increase their efficiency. (This is usually the brush I will use from time-to-time for detangling when I let deep conditioner sit in my girls’ hair.) Trust me, this brush is an absolute must that you may want to purchase two or three of (my middle child loves to use this one on her Barbies, and it goes missing for days at a time).
7. Boar Bristle Brush
Just like it’s name, the Boar Bristle brush is made from boar bristle and comes in different lengths. This is a good curly hair brush for creating amazing mixed hairstyles. Depending on the type of Boar Bristle brush you get, this brush can ruin your child’s hair if used improperly. You want to make sure to use it on already detangled damp moisturized curly hair because it is ideal for creating the perfect slicked-down mixed hairstyles.
8. Shampoo Brush
A shampoo brush will add that luxurious and relaxing experience to any curly hair routine. It is made from silicone bristles, if battery operated, or made from plastic bristles. The shampoo brush is mostly used during the shampoo process and helps to lift dirt, gunk, and any impurities from the hair and scalp.
The shampoo brush is also great because it can exfoliate the scalp removing dead skin and dandruff. (This is paramount for promoting a healthy scalp.) Added bonus: it can also massage the scalp which will help with blood circulation and promote hair growth, and can be used to massage hair oils into the scalp.
9. Edge Brush
Last but not least, the infamous edge brush (or a regular toothbrush will also serve in its place). The edge brush is great for grooming and styling products for mixed hairstyles. The edge brush helps to enhance the end results of mixed hairstyles.
It is mainly used on the hairline of curly hair to give that added ”oomph” to the final look. Also, your child’s curly hairline is fragile and you do not want to cause any damage or break off the hair (which can cause their hairline to recede way earlier than it should).
Edge brushes are designed to be gentle on the hairline. An edge brush will carefully smooth and lay flat any flyaways and reduce frizz. It is best used on damp, already detangled, and moisturized hair. For years, I used a regular wooden toothbrush, mainly because they work the exact same way, and usually you have a new toothbrush lying around in storage or in the guest room anyway.
This post was all about the best brushes for mixed hair care.
Hopefully, this post was helpful in showcasing some of the amazing brushes for your child’s biracial hair care regimen. As I mentioned earlier, you may want to purchase several of the same brush. I cannot tell you how many times I sat down to style my child’s hair just to realize the brush I need went missing. Now that I have three littles running around the house, I have several brushes in each bedroom and bathroom of our house (you’ll thank me later).
If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out the posts below on more mixed hair care.
- 7 of the Best Edge Control Products I’ve Ever Found Online
- Dos and Don’ts of Mixed Curly Hair + Mistakes to Avoid
- Cliff Notes Version of How to Care for Mixed Hair
